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Master's in Germany: requirements and documents

What a Master's admission in Germany needs from a Pakistani or Indian graduate: 16 years of education, English or German proof, documents and deadlines.

Updated 7 November 2026 · Written from Qaiser's videos · official figures checked at the source; Qaiser's own estimates are marked as his

All guides · Part of: Degree recognition

Short answer: You need a completed bachelor's degree (16 years of education, or a 2+2 bachelor's and master's), proof of the language the programme is taught in, and a strong motivation letter. Many universities accept a medium-of-instruction letter instead of IELTS, but each programme decides. Most places open for the winter semester, which starts in October.

A common question under Qaiser's study videos is whether an MOI letter is enough instead of IELTS. The short version: the formal requirements are simple, and they are not what gets you in. What gets you in is how well your previous degree fits the programme and how convincing your application is.

Two formal requirements, then the real selection

Sixteen years of education. A four-year BS (Hons) or BE from Pakistan, or an equivalent Indian bachelor's, meets the usual entry level for a Master's. Qaiser adds that a two-year bachelor's followed by a two-year master's from your home country usually counts as well. Your previous subject has to be relevant to the programme; it does not have to be identical.

The language of the programme. For an English-taught programme you show IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or a Cambridge certificate. If you studied your bachelor's in English and have none of these, many universities accept a medium-of-instruction (MOI) letter from your university. In his experience a clear majority of universities do; the programme's admission page is the only answer that counts for you. German-taught programmes ask for a German certificate, usually at C1 (for example Goethe or TestDaF).

The selection does not depend on these two things. It depends on your motivation, your relevant work experience or your research work.
Qaiser, translated from Urdu

So treat the two requirements as the ticket to be considered, and put your effort into the motivation letter and the evidence behind it: projects, internships, a thesis that fits the programme.

The documents to prepare now

Qaiser's checklist, in the order he suggests you get them:

  1. Passport. Apply early; everything else is useless without it.
  2. Bachelor's degree and transcript, attested by HEC in Pakistan (or the issuing university and relevant authority in India). You can sometimes apply after six or seven semesters with a provisional transcript, but he recommends finishing the degree first.
  3. A recommendation letter from a professor in your department or faculty.
  4. Language proof: IELTS, TOEFL or PTE, or an English proficiency (MOI) letter stating that your bachelor's was taught in English.
  5. CV in Europass format, the format German universities see most often.
  6. Motivation letter or statement of purpose, written for that programme.
  7. GRE or GMAT, only if the programme asks. Some higher-ranked programmes, mostly computer science, data science and a few engineering courses, do; most do not.
  8. Extras that help: any German course certificate, internship letters and work certificates.

Check whether your university and degree appear in anabin before you apply; the recognition guide shows how to read the H+ rating. Applicants from India almost always also need an APS certificate, a check of their academic documents by the APS office at the German embassy in India. There is no APS process for Pakistan. Source: india.diplo.de · checked 7 Nov 2026

Find programmes in the DAAD database

In his long video Qaiser walks through the search live. The steps:

  1. Open the DAAD international programmes database.
  2. Filter by course type Master, course language English, and your field.
  3. Tick no tuition fees if cost matters, and choose the semester you want to start.
  4. Open a programme and read its requirements line by line: the degree it expects, the minimum grade (often stated on the German scale, where 1.0 is best) and the deadline for non-EU applicants, which is often earlier than for EU applicants.

Apply for the winter semester if you can

German universities admit twice a year. The winter semester starts in October and the summer semester in April. Most programmes admit for winter, and only a minority also open for summer, so winter gives you far more choice. Some universities process applications as they arrive, which rewards applying early.

Once you have an admission letter, the next step is the visa: the two requirements for a student visa.

Watch Qaiser explain it

This guide is written from these videos (Urdu/Hindi). Quotes are our translation.

Questions people ask

Is IELTS mandatory for a Master's in Germany?

No, not everywhere. Many English-taught programmes accept a medium-of-instruction (MOI) letter from your university; others require IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or a Cambridge certificate. The programme's admission page decides.

Can I apply with a 14-year bachelor's degree?

A Master's normally needs 16 years of education. A two-year bachelor's followed by a two-year master's from your home country usually counts. Check how anabin rates your degree and ask the university.

When should I apply for a Master's in Germany?

Most programmes start in the winter semester (October); deadlines for non-EU applicants are often earlier than for EU applicants. Some also admit for the summer semester (April). Each programme publishes its own deadline.

Do I need GRE or GMAT?

Only for some programmes, mostly in computer science, data science, business and a few engineering courses. Most programmes do not ask for it.

Official sources

Questions about a video? Ask Qaiser in the comments on Instagram or YouTube.

General information, not legal advice. Rules change. Check the official source linked above; for your own case, the German mission decides.

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